Slip-resistant garments and manufacturing processes thereof

Abstract

A slip-resistant garment may include: at least one textile structure; and/or at least one slip-resistant portion coupled to the at least one textile structure. The at least one slip-resistant portion may include at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from among: (a) block copolymers of styrene; (b) copolymers of ethylene with at least one C3-C12 alpha-olefin; (c) copolymers of at least one butene with at least one diene; or (d) copolymers of ethylene with at least one ester having an ethylene unsaturation selected from among: C1-C8 alkyl acrylate, C1-C8 alkyl methacrylates, or vinyl C2-C8 carboxylates. The copolymers of ethylene with at least one C3-C12 alpha-olefin further include at least one dienic termonomer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A slip-resistant garment, comprising:
 at least one textile structure; and 
 at least one slip-resistant portion coupled to the at least one textile structure; 
 wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) block copolymers of styrene; 
 (b) copolymers of ethylene with at least one C 3 -C 12  alpha-olefin; 
 (c) copolymers of at least one butene with at least one diene; or 
 (d) copolymers of ethylene with at least one ester having an ethylene unsaturation selected from the group consisting of: C 1 -C 8  alkyl acrylate, C 1 -C 8  alkyl methacrylates, or vinyl C 2 -C 8  carboxylates; and 
 
 wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion further comprises at least one tape coupled to the at least one textile structure by hot pressing the at least one tape on the at least one textile structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is a block copolymer of styrene selected from the group consisting of:
 styrene/butadiene/styrene (SBS); 
 styrene/ethylene/butadiene/styrene (SEBS); 
 styrene/ethylene/propylene/styrene (SEPS); 
 styrene/ethylene/butadiene/propylene/styrene (SEBPS); 
 styrene/isoprene/styrene (SIS); 
 styrene/isobutylene/styrene (SIBS); or 
 mixtures thereof. 
 
     
     
       3. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is a block copolymer of styrene having Shore A hardness (measured according to ASTM 2240 or ISO 7619) greater than or equal to 20 and less than or equal to 90. 
     
     
       4. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion further comprises greater than or equal to 1 per hundred rubber (phr) and less than or equal to 50 phr of at least one polyisobutene. 
     
     
       5. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion further comprises greater than or equal to 1 per hundred rubber (phr) and less than or equal to 50 phr of at least one hydrocarbon resin. 
     
     
       6. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion comprises greater than or equal to 10 per hundred rubber (phr) and less than or equal to 250 phr of at least one plasticiser selected from the group consisting of paraffinic oils, naphthenic oils, or polyolefinic oils. 
     
     
       7. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion comprises greater than or equal to 0.5 per hundred rubber (phr) and less than or equal to 50 phr of at least one functionalized polyolefin. 
     
     
       8. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the
 at least one tape has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.02 mm and less than or equal to 5 mm. 
 
     
     
       9. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion is at an edge of at least one access opening of the garment. 
     
     
       10. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a jersey, trousers, stockings, pantyhose, shapewear garment, a containment garment, a formal garment, or a brace for immobilising or supporting joints. 
     
     
       11. A process for manufacturing a slip-resistant garment, the process comprising:
 providing at least one textile structure; and 
 coupling at least one slip-resistant portion to the at least one textile structure; 
 wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) block copolymers of styrene; 
 (b) copolymers of ethylene with at least one C 3 -C 12  alpha-olefin; 
 (c) copolymers of at least one butene with at least one diene; or 
 (d) copolymers of ethylene with at least one ester having an ethylene unsaturation selected from the group consisting of: C 1 -C 8  alkyl acrylates, C 1 -C 8  alkyl methacrylates, or vinyl C 2 -C 8  carboxylates; 
 
 wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion further comprises at least one tape, and 
 wherein the coupling of the at least one slip-resistant portion to the at least one textile structure comprises hot pressing the at least one tape on the at least one textile structure. 
 
     
     
       12. A process for using polymeric material, the process comprising:
 incorporating the polymeric material into a garment; 
 wherein the polymeric material is configured to reduce or prevent slipping of the garment on skin or on a textile substrate, and 
 wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) block copolymers of styrene; 
 (b) copolymers of ethylene with at least one C 3 -C 12  alpha-olefin; 
 (c) copolymers of at least one butene with at least one diene; or 
 (d) copolymers of ethylene with at least one ester having an ethylene unsaturation selected from the group consisting of: C 1 -C 8  alkyl acrylates, C 1 -C 8  alkyl methacrylates, or vinyl C 2 -C 8  carboxylates; and 
 
 wherein the polymeric material further comprises at least one tape coupled to the garment by hot pressing the at least one tape on the garment. 
 
     
     
       13. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymers of ethylene with at least one C 3 -C 12  alpha-olefin further comprise at least one dienic termonomer. 
     
     
       14. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is a block copolymer of styrene having Shore A hardness (measured according to ASTM 2240 or ISO 7619) greater than or equal to 35 and less than or equal to 70. 
     
     
       15. The garment of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one polyisobutene has a molecular weight (Mw) greater than or equal to 100 and less than or equal to 2,500,000. 
     
     
       16. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slip-resistant portion comprises greater than or equal to 0.5 per hundred rubber (phr) and less than or equal to 50 phr of a maleated polyolefin. 
     
     
       17. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one
 tape has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.1 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm. 
 
     
     
       18. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tape has a width greater than or equal to 5 mm and less than or equal to 200 mm. 
     
     
       19. The process of  claim 11 , wherein the copolymers of ethylene with at least one C 3 -C 12  alpha-olefin further comprise at least one dienic termonomer. 
     
     
       20. The process of  claim 12 , wherein the copolymers of ethylene with at least one C 3 -C 12  alpha-olefin further comprise at least one dienic termonomer.